Federico capkoni



Sept. 25, 1923. 8

F. CAPRONI FLYING MACHINE Original Filed July 24, 1916 :5 sheets-sheet 2 EMLQ cam;

I INVENTORJ I Reiaued Sept. 25, 1 923. I

UNITED STATES To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, Fnonmoo CAPRONI, a subject of the King of Italy-residing at Milan, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying Machines, of which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to multiplane' flying-machines, and, in some respects, especially a triplane. An object is the efiicient and durable construction of such machines. Other objects are to secure great power and eificiency, capability of maintaining great stability in the air, and facility' of landing.

To the attainment of these objects and advantages the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination, arrangement and detail herein shown or described.

In the annexed drawings is represented a tri lane embodying the improvements that orm the subject of the present invention.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 represent respectively a front elevation, a plan view and a side elevation of a triplane;

Figures 4 and 5 represent on a larger scale a side view and a plan view of part of the landing-carriage;

Figure 6 is a detail view of'a portion of said carriage on a larger scale; and

Figs. 7 to are diagrams for explaining the present invention, Fig. 7 being a side elevation and Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 being front elevations.

In the illustrated embodimentthe details of the tripl ane may be described as follows.

cally arranged with respect to the center line of the apparatus. uch fuselages are fixed bv their fore-ends to the forward body forme by sustaining planes 4, 5, 6, preferably beneath the middle plane 5. At the rear end of the fusela es 1, 2, are mounted the following planes: tail plane 7 a horihorizontalaxle 8', three vertical -rudders .9, rotatably mounted on axles 10 and joined to one another by means of wires 11, to insure simultaneous rotation of same.

The rudders 9 are operated by means of wires 12 which extend to points adjacent the aviators seat where suitable mechanism It comprises two fuselages 1, 2, symmetrizontal rudder 3, rotatably connected to the Re. l5,68-8 PATENT OFFICE.

rnmmrco carnour, or rum, ITALY.

FLYING xacnmn Original In. 1,825,230, dated December 16, 1919, Serial Io. 110,850, fled July 24, 1916. Application for reissue filed December 15, 1920. Serial No. 480,993.

is (provided for operating the wires. The ru der 3 is operated in a similar way by wires not shown.

The three superposed planes 4, 5, 6, are

interconnected and braced in a novel and advantageous manner. The cellular construction comprises between each pair of planes two upright rows of strut members. The front row is marked 60 and the rear row 61 inFig. 3, the one row corresponding with the other, that is, there being a rear' strut behind each front strut. The uprights 13, at both front and rear, are fixed bytheir upper and lower ends 16'and respectively to the longitudinal frame members embodied in the top and bottom planes 4 and 6, and their centers are attached to the middle plane 5. The uprights 14, at both front and rear, are connected at their centers 17 to the'middle plane, and at their upper and lower ends 17 to the longitudinals of the top and bottom planes 4 and 6. The upright 13 or 14 is not required to be formed in a single piece, but can consist of two sections, one between planes 4 and 5,the other between 5 and 6.

The characteristic of the present invention is in the combined arrangement of the described upright struts, in a triplane, with the diagonal stays or cables, each strut and stay extending from the top plane to the. bottom plane. The prevailing construction of triplanes before my invention involved a biplane structure duplicated for each pair of planes. Thus in Fig. 7, the planes 5 and 6 and-full line members constitute the usual biplane. On adding the third plane 4 the members between 5 and 6 were retained and duplicatesof them provided between 5'and 4. I consider this a disadvantageous triplane, heavy, cumbrous, offering .too much resistance and receiving toomuch strain.

According to my plan, the contrary of the preceding, I produced rigid trellises, as

Fig. are dispensed with, for the supplepropeller 21.

mental struts 14 give the necessary steadiness to the intermediate points of the top and bottom planes.

By means of metallic cross-pieces the illustrated system-of stays or wires 18 isv connected to the planes and struts or uprights at the several points 15, 16, 17 as shown. i

The great, value and efliciency of this arrangement can be demonstrated. It is believed to be a wholly novel system of bracing for triplanes and gives a determined and maximum strength with minimum air resistance.

As another feature, it will be observed that the angles of incidence of the planes 4, 5, 6, and their curvatures are different and are established in such a way as to obtain an imprdved distribution of the pressures on said planes, and the compressions and, tensions in the bracing system.

The angle of incidence of the upper plane 4 is smaller than that oflthe lower plane 6, and the intermediate plane 5 has an angle of incidence comprised between those of the other two. Moreover, the curvature on the back of surface 4 is such as to cause the highest depression, while the curvature underneath the surface 6 shall be such as to bo cause the highest compression or elevation orce.

The car 19 is centrally mounted to extend through the front body, preferably-between the mlddle andlower planes. Carried on the car are the aviator-seat, the control devices,

and at the rear end the motor 20 driving the Two further motors, 22, 23, are arranged on the forward ends of the fuselages 1, 2, which ends project outside the front frame. The motors 22, 23, are connected to drive the forward propellers 24, 25.

This arrangement of opposite tractor propellers at the front and a central pusher propeller rearward of the body is a feature of value, giving a well balanced driving action, and one which is but slightly unbalanced bythe stopping of one or two of the motors.

The landing carriage comprises three sets of wheels, 26, 27, at the sides, and a forward-wheel or wheels 28. The sets 26, 27, are alike and are mounted underneath the front body or planes, and symmetrically arranged in respect to the central line of the apparatus, and beneath thefuselages 1, 2.

The frames carrying the side wheels 26, 27 are so constructed as to distribute the several'strains caused by landing and minimize the resistance of air to progressive movement. The fitting of the wheels on their frames is effected b suitable elastic means in order to afford ylelding resistance to the strains caused by landing.

The details are shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The frame members 29 are made of compound wood so that they will be free from distortion, and are flat in form. Each member 29 is fixed by its upper end to the longitudinal frame member 30 of the lowest plane 6; and it is shown as extendingdownward and curved rearward and prolonged into a central bar 31, parallel with and beneath axis of the corresponding fuselage. I

The end of the bar 31 is connected to the rear longitudinal frame member 32 of the lower lane by means of a rigid upright'33. Exten ing from the longitudinal frame members 30 and 32v and connecting to the middle part of bar 31 are arranged the rigid strengthening bars 34, 35.

Each set of wheels 26, 27, on the landing wheels comprises in fact four wheels, two of which 38, 38, are at the front, the others 39, 39, at the rear end of the carriage central bar 31. The axles 36, 37, of these two couples of wheels are supported at their centers by bar 31 and are bound yieldingly into place, for example by cables or elastic bands, preferably. consisting of caoutchouc. The axles 36, 37, are connected to one another by means of metallic rods 42, through joints, such rods likewise being mutually which also pass around the bar 31. The bands thus all cooperate to yieldingly .hold down the landing wheels, and reduce the shock of contacts. The fore axle 36 is connected bymeans of rods 44 to the ends of a rockingmember 45, such member being connected by its center through a joint 46 to a support 47, fixed on the curved part of the member 29.

Underneath each r d 42 is arranged a stayor wire 48, with strut or upright 49 between it and the rod, such arrangement having for its object to brace said rod against strain. The forward pair of landing wheels 28 also preferably have their axle 51 elastically connected, namely by means of a supporting arm or lever 52. This member is pivoted to a supporting bracket of which to embody the principles and attain the obund..or surrounded by elastic bands 43,

jects and advantages of the present invention; and further advantages will be understood to those skilled in the art. Since many matters of combination, arrangement, structure and detail may be variously modified without departing from the features constituting the invention, it is not intended to limit the invention to such matters except so far as specifically recited the appended claims. i

What is claimed is 1. A triplane flying machine comprising in combination two fuselages symmetrically arranged with respect to the center line of the apparatus, two motors arranged on the forward ends of said fuselages, propellers attached to said motors, a motor in center with propeller, a tail plane and a horizontal rudder mounted upon the rear end of said two fuselages.

2. In a multiplane flying machine, a landing carriage comprising in ,combination, a Wheel frame, front and rear wheel axles, on said frame, means yieldingly holding a wheel axle in place upon the frame, and a movable member interconnecting the front and rear axles. I

3. Flying machine as in claim 2 and wherein elastic wrappings yieldinglyhold both wheel axles. in place on the frame, and a rocking connection is provided between the frame and the member interconnecting the two axles.

4. Flying machine as 'in claim 2 and wherein an additional means is provided for yieldingly holding the interconnecting member in place.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature hereto.

FEDERICO CAPRONI. 

